Old Dominion, NATO HQ SACT Sign Memorandum of Understanding
A memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Old Dominion University and NATO Headquarters, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (HQ SACT), was signed on the ODU campus Aug. 26.
The two-year agreement, signed by ODU President John R. Broderick and Vice Adm. Robert G. Cooling of the UK Royal Navy and chief of staff for HQ SACT, will allow for further partnerships between the university and the nearby military operation.
The memorandum will help strengthen the decade-long ties between both organizations. It reads:
"Based on a history of mutual respect and collaboration that has included jointly sponsored events, scholarships awarded by Old Dominion University, and internships offered by Headquarters, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, both parties wish to enter a cooperative mode of operation in the interest of sharing resources that support the missions of both parties and enable individuals associated with both to benefit from the wealth of expertise represented."
Among the responsibilities for HQ SACT stemming from the MOU are to consider Old Dominion its principal university partner in the organization of conferences and speakers; jointly sponsor, with ODU, a student simulation event or international symposium every year; provide its own staffers as visiting experts and speakers at ODU; and work cooperatively with ODU faculty and staff to develop programs and projects of mutual interest.
For its part, ODU pledges to offer a minimum of 65 scholarships to qualifying students who are either members of Allied forces working at, or attached to, HQ SACT. These awards will be for those successfully and continuously enrolled full time in an undergraduate or graduate degree program.
The MOU also states that both entities will continue to seek additional ways to cooperate and collaborate. No exchange of funds between the parties is included in this agreement, and each institution will bear its own administrative costs for joint programming efforts.